You Have No Talent, How Could Master Ever Look at You?

"You have no talent—how could Master possibly spare you a glance?" Listening to Zhao Cang's explanation, Lin Tian also came to understand the connection between this cultivation method and his own qi and blood.

In other words, practicing martial arts was still, in itself, the accumulation of qi and blood.

Only, that accumulation had to be completed through a cultivation method.

And because martial artists could not accurately sense their own qi and blood, they needed certain standards of measurement.

And a cultivation method just so happened to serve as that standard.

But at this moment, another question arose in Lin Tian's mind.

That was: since a martial artist's realm was related to the realm of their cultivation method, did the realm of this cultivation method also need qi and blood to support it?

After hearing Lin Tian's question, Zhao Cang answered directly, "No. To what extent this cultivation method can be cultivated depends entirely on your own comprehension. It has nothing to do with the martial artist's own qi and blood."

"The only connection there is lies in qi and blood affecting the power of the cultivation method, that's all."

"Take the nine echoes of this Mountain-Shaking Fist. At minor mastery, you can produce three echoes; at major mastery, six echoes; only at perfection is it nine echoes."

"If your comprehension is strong, you could even cultivate it to nine echoes before undergoing your first knocking at the gate."

"But your qi and blood would only be enough to produce three echoes."

"Of course, if you truly can cultivate it to nine echoes by the time of your first knocking at the gate,"

"then what that represents would naturally be different."

As Zhao Cang spoke, he seemed to think of something, as though recalling something.

Several images suddenly appeared in his mind.

But after a moment, he gently shook his head again.

Then he said solemnly to Lin Tian before him, "However, on the path of martial arts, one's own realm is the foundation, and what must be avoided most is aiming high while one's feet leave the ground."

"I've seen quite a few people pursue the realm of their cultivation methods, only to miss the best time to practice martial arts in the end and waste their lives away."

"After all, there are too few geniuses in this world. For someone like you... for ordinary people in general, it's best to simply seek truth from facts."

Hearing his words, Lin Tian naturally knew what the other party had originally meant to say.

It was nothing more than the same kind of thing Zhang Cui had said back then.

For someone like him, he should not have those unrealistic dreams, and so on.

Of course, Lin Tian did not say anything more.

He merely nodded and said, "This disciple will respectfully obey your teachings."

Seeing this, Zhao Cang also nodded in satisfaction.

"Mm, not bad."

"Next, I will teach you the cultivation method of Mountain-Shaking Fist. Feel it carefully, and ask if there is anything you don't understand."

Afterward, under Zhao Cang's guidance, Lin Tian continuously began cultivating the various moves and key points of Mountain-Shaking Fist.

And as time continued to pass, the disciples in the Martial Academy also arrived in twos and threes.

As for Lin Tian, this newcomer, everyone first sized him up curiously.

Then, afterward, they went off to cultivate on their own.

And Lin Tian, under Zhao Cang's instruction, only after mastering all the key points he needed to cultivate

did Zhao Cang rise and say, "Since you've already grasped all the essentials, you can go cultivate on your own."

"However, the foundation needed in the early stages of martial practice must be laid properly, so for these next few days, I'll take you through training every morning."

"Of course, over the next few days, you can also come find me at any time to ask about anything you don't understand."

After saying this, Zhao Cang did not linger and went straight toward the inner courtyard.

After Zhao Cang left, quite a few disciples in the outer courtyard area all looked over at Lin Tian one after another.

The emotions carried in those gazes varied.

There was curiosity and novelty, but of course, more than that, there was still scrutiny and appraisal.

Especially after they saw Lin Tian clumsily and sluggishly execute a certain move.

Several disciples even gestured with their own hands.

They struck the same clumsy posture as Lin Tian.

The corners of their mouths all carried the condescension and superiority of seasoned veterans.

Of course, Lin Tian paid no attention to these people's gazes at all.

Instead, he sank alone into his own world.

And after he once again completed a full set of moves.

The fate in Lin Tian's mind shone again.

Fate: Learning Leads to Success.

Mountain-Shaking Fist experience +5

Mountain-Shaking Fist (Minor Achievement) 7/100

Looking at the Mountain-Shaking Fist experience changing once more on the panel.

Lin Tian was immediately a little dumbfounded.

As for why...

How should he put it? Although he did not know what speed other cultivators practiced the Mountain-Shaking Fist at.

He was very clear that his own cultivation speed absolutely counted as fast!

And not just ordinarily fast!

After all, it had only been since he first began practicing the Mountain-Shaking Fist.

From truly grasping the fist technique to being able to perform a full set on his own now.

It could be said that he had only completely performed two sets of the fist technique.

Yet this experience had already reached almost one-tenth??

What kind of concept was that?

In other words, if he performed it at most twenty more times now, the fist technique could reach Minor Achievement.

Then he would carry out his first attempt to break through to Bright Force??

This fate of his... seemed a little strong?

Among these things, he had previously learned from Zhao Cang.

Some relevant matters regarding this first attempt to break through to Bright Force.

In general, there was only one sentence.

Bright Force was the beginning of martial dao; among those who sought the path, only two or three in ten succeeded.

The meaning within was also very simple.

Bright Force was the beginning of martial dao, the first realm of martial dao.

It was also the realm after the first breakthrough gate of martial dao.

It was the most important first step of all martial dao!

And this pass was also called the Pass of Life and Death.

Only because he had just one chance to charge through it!

If he succeeded, then from then on, the gate of martial dao would be flung wide open!

If he failed, he would stop here and never advance an inch for the rest of his life!

And only by stepping into Bright Force could one truly be considered to have entered the ranks of martial dao.

And it was also this step that had blocked who knew how many people.

Only because of the latter half of that sentence.

Among those who sought the path, only two or three in ten succeeded!

It clearly stated the success rate of stepping into Bright Force.

Of course, Lin Tian also knew that this so-called twenty to thirty percent.

For a poor, suffering person like him, who could not even eat his fill.

The probability should be even lower...

Of course, these were not problems he should be considering right now.

After all, right now, he had not even reached the threshold of that breakthrough.

Immediately, he once again unfolded his fist frame and practiced his punches.

And at this moment, the people around him naturally also stared at Lin Tian with that gaze from before, faintly tinged with superiority.

After all, there were people like them who struggled at the very bottom.

What they loved seeing most was other people struggling.

Among the crowd.

One of the most active disciples suddenly spoke up. "Hey, it's starting, it's starting. Heh, that brat's about to perform that ridiculous White Ape Gazing at the Moon again. Haha, you didn't see it—his posture just now, I guarantee you'd laugh every single time you saw it."

Beside him stood several other disciples, who also revealed disdainful smiles.

Clearly, this was still a small clique within the crowd.

And the one speaking was presumably the leader among them.

The other party had not been far from Lin Tian earlier, so Lin Tian could hear him as well.

Of course, the movements of his hands.

Naturally, they would not stop just because of a word or two from the other party.

After all, for someone like him who had truly struggled at the bottom.

The first thing he had learned.

Was not to care about other people's so-called strange gazes.

Before you had grown strong, that was the most useless thing in the world.

Lin Tian once again set out his movements.

And when he reached the movement White Ape Gazing at the Moon.

It naturally drew another round of snickers from those people.

Lin Tian still turned a deaf ear to it.

After he finished practicing this round.

He continued on to the second round, the third, the fourth.

His movements grew faster and faster.

Yet it was as if he had never heard the ridicule from the few people around him.

During this time, Lin Tian did glance at them from the corner of his eye.

How should one put these people?

Especially the one leading them.

He was clearly around the same age as Lin Tian.

Yet at this moment, he actually had somewhat of the overbearing look of a local hooligan?

And after these people saw that Lin Tian was unmoved by their laughter.

It was as if they had gotten into a contest of stubbornness with Lin Tian?

They actually just stood there watching, not even going to practice martial arts?

Lin Tian did not pay too much attention to this.

After all, their eyes grew on their own bodies.

If they wanted to look at him.

Could he really make these people turn their heads away?

And the few people watching Lin Tian were indeed just as Lin Tian thought.

They really did waste their time on Lin Tian.

Especially the one leading the group.

Even the way he looked at Lin Tian had changed a little.

At this moment, Lin Tian's stubborn appearance.

To someone like him, who had been used to running rampant through the village since childhood.

Was almost no different from resisting him.

It was even making him lose face in front of his own little clique.

I'd like to see how long a mud-legged peasant like you can hold out!

He believed he had long since seen through every bit of Lin Tian's background.

Especially from the shabby, poverty-stricken clothes Lin Tian wore at this moment.

He could tell that Lin Tian's family circumstances were certainly extremely poor.

Someone born like this was definitely deeply inferior in his heart.

At this moment, he was certain that as long as he let out a few more laughs.

The other party definitely would not be able to endure it!

Of course, he naturally had his own purpose in doing this.

To him, people like Lin Tian, whose family backgrounds were humble.

The easiest to subdue into a loyal dog of his own!

One must not underestimate mud-legged peasants from poor and bitter backgrounds.

He knew very well that once people like this were subdued, they became the most loyal dogs!

They would obey practically every word you said.

At the most critical moment, they could even be thrown out to block disaster!

Heh, trash like this, in a certain sense, could also be considered something one could only stumble upon by luck and not seek out.

A plan he had thought through long ago had already formed in his mind.

First, he would deal the other party a blow, making him develop an invisible awe toward him.

Of course, to put it plainly, this was also called stamping an invisible master-servant contract onto him.

It was a little like taming a hawk.

Of course, there were differences too.

The mud-legged peasant before him was even lower than that hawk.

He only needed to strike him down once.

If everyone encounters ads like "Are you a real person?", there is no need to pay attention to them. Just close them. Do not scan any codes or send any messages!

And after this mark was stamped on him, he and this mud-legged peasant would henceforth have an absolute division of rank.

From now on, whenever the other party saw him, he would only lower his brows and obey.

After that, he would only need to give him a sweet date at the proper time.

In this way, he would have completed the taming.

And what he needed to do now was merely let the other party suffer one more blow, and then...

But at this moment, before he had finished speaking, Lin Tian's fifth round of the fist technique had already begun.

For some reason, the instant he saw Lin Tian's opening stance, a trace of confusion immediately appeared in his eyes.

Perhaps earlier, he had been too focused on suppressing the other party, and so had failed to notice the changes in Lin Tian's movements and posture.

But as Lin Tian's fist technique truly continued, he was immediately dumbfounded.

Because this time, whether it was Lin Tian's posture or the details of the fist technique, they were all incomparably standard?!

At this moment, Lin Tian's movements flowed like drifting clouds and running water.

He was even performing it better than him, a disciple who had entered the sect a full month earlier??

"This... what is going on! H-how could his fist technique improve so quickly!?"

The few people watching the excitement nearby also noticed the changes in Lin Tian's fist technique moves.

Immediately, shock and confusion appeared on their faces as well!

This... this...

Lin Tian paid no attention to the shock of the people in the distance.

After quickly finishing this round of the fist technique, he looked at his panel again.

Mountain-Shaking Fist (Minor Achievement) 32/100

Looking at the experience value above, Lin Tian also sensed the changes in the fist technique within his mind.

With his grasp of his current proficiency in the fist technique, a thread of sudden understanding arose in his heart.

He felt that as long as he did it one more time, he should be able to strike out the first sound among the three sounds of Minor Achievement.

Very soon, his fist technique unfolded once more in practice.

Before long, a complete and standard round of the fist technique was once again performed before the few people not far away.

When those people saw Lin Tian perfectly perform a full set of fist technique for the second time, their hearts were once again filled with astonishment.

That was right. It had not been a coincidence!

The other party's complete set of fist techniques just now had not been a coincidence at all.

He... he had truly mastered every movement and force-exertion technique of the Mountain-Shaking Fist!!

This... how was this possible!!

Could it be that this mud-legged peasant before him was actually a martial arts genius?!

At that moment, an uneasy feeling suddenly rose in the leader's heart.

After all, if the other party truly was a martial arts genius...

Then there was no doubt that everything he had done just now had stirred up a massive disaster!!

"Wait! Look! What is that kid trying to do! That... that stance of his... could he be trying to strike the first echo?!!"

That shout instantly cut off everyone's thoughts!

Especially the leading youth who had been the first among them to mock him.

"What! This... on his very first day at the Martial Academy, he can actually strike the first echo??! H-how is that possible!"

At that moment, as if he had thought of something...

The youth's face instantly went a few shades pale!!

His eyes stared fixedly at Lin Tian ahead.

At that moment, Lin Tian had already taken up the stance for throwing a punch.

As his movements swept out, they naturally carried a sense of guiding qi and blood.

This...

Just as the other party was still in shock...

Lin Tian had already thrown a punch.

A gust of fist wind, carrying Lin Tian's sweat, blasted out.

Unfortunately, that punch merely revealed fist wind.

It failed to sound the first echo of the Mountain-Shaking Fist.

After seeing that scene...

Everyone's hearts loosened in relief.

After all, to them...

If they had truly offended a martial arts genius...

The consequences that represented...

Were simply not something they could bear.

Of course.

Afterward, these people immediately scattered like birds and beasts, each going off to cultivate.

After all, although they had settled their minds...

The fact that Lin Tian had completely mastered the Mountain-Shaking Fist in only five repetitions earlier...

Was something they had practically seen with their own eyes!

So even though Lin Tian had failed to sound that first echo at this moment...

They no longer dared to offend him in their hearts.

Naturally, the man who had led them also left with the others.

Only, the arrogance in his eyes surfaced once more.

As he left, he even gave a cold snort full of disdain.

At that moment, Lin Tian was also looking at the fist he had just swung.

That first echo of the Mountain-Shaking Fist just now...

Without a doubt, he had struck it.

Only, the sound from between his tendons and bones had been far too faint.

So faint that it was nearly without a ripple.

That was why those few had not noticed it.

And Lin Tian roughly knew the reason for it as well.

His foundation was lacking.

Or rather, his qi and blood were insufficient.

So right now, he had the empty shell of technique and realm.

But not the inner substance.

And there was only one reason behind it.

This body of his was too frail.

It simply was not enough to support him through the explosive burst of power required by the Mountain-Shaking Fist!

Sure enough, the path of martial training was not that simple...

"Junior Brother, what fine comprehension. To grasp all the essentials of the fist technique so quickly is truly no easy feat."

A voice rang out at that moment.

Lin Tian looked up.

He saw a youth with ordinary looks and a steady bearing standing before him.

The youth was smiling as he looked at him.

Confusion flickered in Lin Tian's eyes.

The disciple then introduced himself. "You must be the newly arrived junior brother, right? I'm your senior brother. My name is Zhang Ming."

"Lin Tian pays his respects to Senior Brother Zhang."

After hearing the other party's words, Lin Tian immediately cupped his hands and said so.

"Hehe, Junior Brother Lin, no need to be so polite. I saw just now that after practicing the Mountain-Shaking Fist only five times, you had already integrated and understood it all. Junior Brother's aptitude is truly enviable."

Zhang Ming now returned to the topic from before.

"It was all because Master taught me well. I merely got lucky."

Hearing Lin Tian's words, Zhang Ming knew the other party was being modest.

After all, it was not as if he himself had never practiced the Mountain-Shaking Fist.

Some of its movements and certain key points—how could they be understood so quickly by relying on rote memorization alone?

That naturally required talent.

Of course, Zhang Ming also knew that the other party did not want to speak too much of it at the moment.

So naturally, he would not fuss over it.

"In that case, I won't disturb Junior Brother any further."

After saying that, Zhang Ming turned and walked straight toward the inner courtyard.

Seeing the direction he was heading, this time it was Lin Tian who was stunned.

This Zhang Ming was an inner-courtyard disciple?

The Zhao Family Martial Academy was divided into two courtyards in total.

The inner courtyard and the outer courtyard.

The outer courtyard was perfectly ordinary, where newly initiated disciples like him stayed.

But the inner courtyard was different.

Every disciple there, without exception, had broken through to Bright Force.

In other words, that Zhang Ming from earlier was at least a martial artist who had stepped into Bright Force.

The morning passed very quickly.

Inside the courtyard, all the disciples, faces weary, had collapsed to the ground, some sitting, some lying down.

It was now time for the midday meal.

Thus, quite a few disciples took out the lunch boxes they had brought with them.

All kinds of food aromas immediately drifted through the courtyard.

Most of the people in this outer courtyard came from poor families.

As a result, the food they brought was mostly coarse-grain dry noodles.

Of course, there were also some from better-off families who brought white flour foods, even some meat.

Especially the aroma of that meat.

It immediately made Lin Tian's body, already emptied by martial practice, grow even hungrier.

And it was at this moment.

A hand holding two white-flour steamed buns was extended before him.

"Here, Junior Brother Lin."

Lin Tian practically looked up at once. It was Zhang Ming, the one who had spoken to him earlier?

"Senior Brother Zhang, this is..."

Looking at the white-flour steamed buns before him, Lin Tian's throat rolled involuntarily twice.

"Hehe, this is something Master prepared for us academy disciples, to prevent us from truly going hungry and being unable to practice martial arts because of the food situation at home."

"From what I saw, since this is your first day here, you probably aren't familiar with things yet, so I brought you two."

"Don't worry. They're all included in the tuition."

As he listened to the other person's words, Lin Tian looked again at the two steamed buns before him, neither large nor small.

He immediately took them directly.

After all, he truly was hungry.

Lin Tian swallowed the two white-flour steamed buns in just a few bites.

After finishing them, Lin Tian did not rest for long.

He immediately set up his boxing stance again.

After all, Lin Tian knew very clearly what difficulties he was facing.

Especially the threat the Shark Gang posed to his family.

And now that he bore a fate upon him, he absolutely could not afford to slack off here.

But his actions at this moment

once again drew the attention of the people around him who were still eating and resting.

"Hey, look, that newcomer seems pretty diligent. He's actually still practicing boxing at a time like this. Doesn't he know how to get tired?"

"Heh, from what I see, he's just putting on a deliberate show to get Master's attention."

"Hah! Truly laughable. Looks like this newcomer still doesn't understand."

"In this Martial Academy, thinking you can attract Master's attention through hard work alone is nothing but a joke."

"If you have no talent, how could Master possibly spare you a glance?"

"This little performance is destined to be a joke. Let's just treat it as a bit of juggling for us to watch while we eat, hehe."

When everyone around heard this, they all looked at Lin Tian with various indescribable smiles on their faces.

It was as if things truly were just as that person had said earlier, and they were treating Lin Tian at this moment like an actor performing tricks in front of them.

But just then, a female disciple's voice came from the inner courtyard not far away.

"Lin Tian, Master wants you to come into the inner courtyard for a moment."

"What!!"